Convenient dry beans

So I usually use canned bean since it's faster to add to Gumbo, chilli and whatever. I usually only use 1 can at a time. Therefore dry beans we're never practical for me. But I read this tip on 5 $ dinner.

Cook a large batch of dry beans and seperate into 2 cups servings and freeze. You can then add it to your meals just like canned beans.

I love this idea - our canned beans are so expensive here - even when on sale!! I have a good supply of all beans but dried garbanzo beans - have not found them anywhere on island yet. Will head to the other side tomorrow and check for them there.

Question about freezing the beans - do you put them in ziplock bags or in sturdier containers? Mahalo!!

I quick-freeze cooked,drained, beans on a cookie sheet, then package them in a single layer in a FoodSaver bag. When you reopen the bag, give it a tap on the counter to loosen the beans, and you can remove a few beans for adding to a taco salad, or measure out enough to substitute for a can of beans. If you dump a bunch of cooked beans into the bottom of a zip-lock bag or a plastic container WITHOUT quick-freezing them in a single layer FIRST, you'll end up with a "brick" of frozen beans in the bottom of the bag.

An easy way to "cook" beans is in a Thermos. When a recipe calls for a 15-oz. can of black beans, I'll soak 1/2-cup of black beans overnight, and "cook" them in the Thermos 10-12 hours. How to: http://thriftyliving.net/?p=71

Another way to use dried beans for quick meals is to mill them in a grain meal. (See: Country Beans by Rita Bingham)

Once you have the base, you can add any number of things. If there's some shredded chicken handy, or leftover cooked veggies (or rehydrate some freeze-dried veggies), add them. You can also use Beef-flavored Herb Ox, instead of chicken. Use chicken or turkey broth instead of water.

I actually can my own from dry beans. If you can, its one of the easiest things to do and you will end up with less than .25 in a can of beans, most of the cost being the lid.

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Do you have a recipe for this ?
Somewhere I was reading not too long ago, that someone put dry beans in a jar, added hot water, and then canned them. Thinking maybe a cup of beans to a quart.
I have some extra dry beans, and would like to experiment.
I like beans for a protein source for the chickens.

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Do you have a recipe for this ?
Somewhere I was reading not too long ago, that someone put dry beans in a jar, added hot water, and then canned them. Thinking maybe a cup of beans to a quart.
I have some extra dry beans, and would like to experiment.
I like beans for a protein source for the chickens.